In a recent development, a Right to Information data revealed serious violation of reservation policy in the sanctioning of faculty positions in forty central Universities across India. Data also states the irregularities in filling sanctioned faculty positions in universities.
Regarding the same issue, All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) on Tuesday wrote a letter to the National Commission for Backward Classes Chairman. In the statement made by AIOBCSA, it states that: "There are only 15.63 per cent faculty positions are vacant in General Category in 40 Central Universities, whereas 45.10 per cent of Scheduled Caste, 52.15 per cent of Scheduled Tribe, 56.44 per cent of OBC, 93.19 per cent of Economically Weaker Section, and 64.44 per cent of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) sanctioned faculty positions are vacant in reserved categories,"
"The frequent use of the 'None Found Suitable (NFS)' option by the Selection Committees under the chairpersonship of vice-chancellors is seriously impacting the opportunity for reserved candidates." point outs the letter.
Out of the 18,352 sanctioned faculty position at the professor, associate professor, and assistant professor level, 10230 positions are allocated to general category (55.74 per cent), 2266 sanctioned positions for scheduled castes (12.34 per cent) instead of 2752 positions, 1135 positions are sanctioned for scheduled tribes (6.1 per cent) instead of 1376 positions, and 3345 positions are sanctioned for other backward classes (OBCs) (18.22) instead of 4956 positions.
The numbers reflect the constitutionally mandated reservation policy of 15 per cent for SCs, 7.5 per cent for STs, and 27 per cent for OBCs.
As per now, AIOBCSA raises similar concern over faculty recruiting at the university level. They said that they are not recruiting category positions at the university level.
Speaking to Madhyamam, Gowd Kiran Kumar, President of AIOBCSA said that "UGC must implement the reservation policy properly. In the total positions approved for central universities, the UGC should allocate 15 per cent for SCs, 7.5 per cent for STs, and 27 per cent for OBCs. All the unfilled and sanctioned positions in all categories should be notified in a phased manner and filled in order to do justice to SC, ST, OBCs, EWS, and PWD candidates. UGC should issue clear guidelines on 'None Found Suitable (NFS),' and it should be avoided when there are eligible and qualified applicants in the reserved categories.
"There is a gross injustice that is taking place against oppressed sections in central universities. Left-wing and Marxist academicians are highly dominant in Indian higher education institutions. These intellectuals are doing injustice to oppressed minorities. Is this their 'progressive struggle'?" he asked.